The trend of accessing premium content for free has gained significant traction in recent times. As financial constraints persist, more households are turning to illicit streaming services that provide unrestricted access to sports and movies without the usual subscription fees.
The appeal of obtaining services like Premier League and F1 coverage at reduced costs or no expense is undeniably attractive. However, the surge in individuals opting for unofficial channels has not escaped the notice of authorities and content providers.
In a concerted effort to curb unauthorized viewing, a significant crackdown has recently occurred, resulting in the permanent closure of a major streaming service.
Through collaboration with Egyptian authorities, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the primary antipiracy coalition globally, has successfully dismantled a notorious piracy network.
Streameast, a platform offering access to various events such as the Premier League for a while, and, has reportedly garnered over 1.6 billion visits in the past year alone.
In addition to premier football, F1, MMA, and Moto GP content, Streameast also facilitated access to sport-specific piracy sites featuring American sports leagues like the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Baseball (MLB).
According to Charles Rivkin, Chairman of ACE and CEO of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), the takedown of the largest illegal live sports platform signifies a significant triumph in combating digital piracy. This decisive action aims to protect the interests of sports leagues, entertainment firms, and fans worldwide, with the assurance of continued efforts to target major piracy networks globally.
Traffic to the various domains primarily originated from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Philippines, and Germany. Users who relied on this platform will now encounter content restrictions.
Cameron Andrews, Legal Director for Anti-Piracy at beIN MEDIA GROUP, lauded ACE for its successful enforcement action against piracy. Emphasizing the detrimental effects of piracy on the entire sports industry, Andrews stressed the importance of international cooperation and robust enforcement measures in combatting illegal networks. beIN MEDIA GROUP reaff